Are you looking for ways to improve your study skills and your study time?
I do not know if you would call 23 tips to improve your study skills a short list, but I hope that there is something useful here for everyone. I have included several tips for studying with children since many of you have children.
1) Create a study schedule/routine.
This may seem unimportant, but having a set schedule and place to study is actually an important way to improve your study skills. As much as possible, honor those scheduled times as much as you would honor a doctor’s appointment or a work schedule.
2) Write a to-do list with only the items you need to do today.
Y0u might be tempted to write EVERYTHING you need to do on that list. Don’t. You know you cannot do everything. Identify and prioritize those tasks that need to be completed. You can always dust or binge on Netflix later.
3) Study for a short time
This can be for as little as 30 minutes. Then take a quick break and get some form of exercise, even if it is only walking around the block, or up and down the apartment stairs.
4) If you have school-aged children, establish a practice of family study time.
You study when they do. It is possible that they may suddenly discover they have other interests and let you study in peace. Many children do not think studying with a parent is “cool”. 😊 Some children might like the idea. This can create family memories of “together time”. You can consider this acceptable multi-tasking. You would be spending time with your children at the same time you are getting school work done. I have discussed this in more depth here.
5) Read the instructions on your assignment carefully.
Do not “assume” that you know what the assignment wants you to do. Have you lost points because you did not add something that was required? Read the instructions. I have known students who have lost one or even two letter grades because they did not read the fine print of the instructions. That is why I created my assignment checklist.
Check it out. It is Free!!
6) Create a study area.
This should be, at least for most people, different from the area where you do other things, such as watching television. Eliminate as many distractions from this area as you reasonably can. If you find yourself looking at, the television, a picture, or some other item and daydreaming, move the item so you can no longer easily see it. You can replace it when you are not studying.
7) Perfectionism is a waste of time and energy.
If you have the time and the resources to be perfect in all your tasks, then use all that time and resources. If you do not have the time and resources, aim to do the best job you can. Aim to improve your study skills, not to be perfect. Your goal is to be productive with your time, not to be perfect. Perfectionism is a form of procrastination. Think about that. Does what you need to do need to be perfect, or does it simply need to be done?
8) If you tend to remember auditory cues, read the material aloud.
Of course, this should be done where you are alone or you will not disturb anyone. It may seem silly, but some people do remember what they study if they can remember hearing their own voice discussing the material.
9) If you tend to remember visual cues,
Take a few moments to create some kind of mental visual. Then you can review a “movie” of what you are studying. You could visualize your instructor giving a lecture on the material. You can visualize YOU giving a lecture on the material. This is a good way to review the material.
10) Find the best fit for your study time and habits.
No fit will be “right”, but one should be comfortable.
11) If you can remember what you heard,
Find a recording tool and record what you need to study. If you have family or friends who want to be helpful, ask them to record some of your reading material. Listen to those recordings whenever you can.
12) Ask for help.
No one knows everything. Besides, searching for your own answers takes time you could use for other things, like being with your family, sleeping, or other activities. Trying to do everything is a sure-fire way to get overwhelmed. You might be interested in my thoughts on this.
13) If you do not like sitting to study, don’t.
No one says you cannot walk around the room when you are reading your material. You might want to do this in a room without other people, of course. You might disturb others. Then again, others might think you are not studying and they will want to disturb you.
14) If at all possible, for example, do not study at the kitchen table.
If you do, use a different place to sit. If you sit at your regular spot at the table, you will soon find yourself eating something! [Force of habit!] Use the force of habit to help you improve your study skills. When you find a good place to study, study in the same place as often as possible. Soon, once you sit there, you will start thinking of studying. That is good!!
15) Do not study on the bed or in the chair you usually sit in to watch television.
This works on the same principle as #14. You will do those other activities in time, like watch television or sleeping, instead of studying.
Have you ever lost points on an assignment because you forgot to do something?
My assignment checklist can help you remember the details.
Check it out! It is FREE!!!!
16) Use available resources.
Fight the urge to take time to “do it myself”. Doing the task yourself takes time and energy. Put your time and energy into the tasks you MUST get done.
17) Approach each homework assignment as if it were a work assignment.
In a sense, it is a work assignment. If you treat your homework as if it were a hobby, you will likely not get many good grades. You have to honor your commitment to yourself and use your study time wisely. Earning a certificate or a degree is something you want for you, right? Honor your own goals.
18) Read the instructions for the assignment carefully.
Do not just look at the title of the assignment or the caption and assume you know what you need to do. I would also suggest you at least quickly review any suggested reading material associated with the assignment. You might be surprised at how many of your questions might be answered in that associated material.
19) About 80% of your designated study time should be for study.
The remaining 20% of your time should be spent in review. Do not short-change the review. Repeated reviews are what gets the information into memory. You still remember some of the songs you learned when you were young, right? That is because you repeated them many, many, many times. In other words, you reviewed the material. That is the power of review.
20) As you review, teach the material if only to a wall.
If you do this aloud, you will note when you have “holes” in the material. Note those holes and then use your next study session to fill those holes. If you don’t, the holes only get bigger.
21) Use tip #3 (Study for a short period of time) for writing as well.
That 20% of your time should be used for proofreading and ensuring that your response addresses all parts of the assignment.
22) Write out your notes.
The act of writing helps imprint the material in memory. This is good if you tend to be a student who does not do well sitting. Writing can keep you active and engaged.
23) Read the instructions.
Yes, I know this is a repeat; it is important. I cannot tell you how many students get lower grades on their assignments because they did not read the proverbial fine print in the instructions. Many tend to read the first few words, think “I’ve got this”, and start writing. They invariably leave out some important information. Trust me on this one. If you ever have anyone on your team who “assumed”, you know what I mean by this.
There are other links for giving you hints for studying with children. Be careful, however, that you do not find all the links about you being your children’s teacher. You might be, but now you need to know how YOU can get your classwork completed. This is one link you might also find helpful. https://social.usq.edu.au/uni-life/blogs/survive-chaos-studying-with-children-heidi
That was written by someone in Australia, but I included it to prove to you that you are NOT the only one who struggles with this. Parents all around the globe can share the joys and the difficulties of studying with their children.
If you found this helpful. If you did, please share it with someone you think would also find it useful. I would appreciate it. Your friend might appreciate it too.
Have you ever lost points on an assignment because you forgot to do something?
My assignment checklist can help you remember the details.
Check it out! It is FREE!!!!
If you have any questions or comments, hit “reply” and ask me.
Change your habits
Change your attitude
Change your life
Remember that you are supported, and you can do this!
Until next week,
Valerie
Providing information and tools to help harried adult college students earn their degrees without losing their sanity
updated 8 October 2023